Spriester’s co-anchor Ursula Pari was stunned to learn of his death after speaking with him just a few weeks ago. “He was in high spirits because his career in advertising was going very well. To say that we who know Bert are shocked by his death is an understatement,” Pari told me in a message. “This came out of left field for all of us and we are incredibly saddened to lose such bright spot in our lives.”

Lozano, 42, and a native of Mission, worked as a reporter for San Antonio’s ABC affiliate for five years. He left in 2004 to take a job at WFAA in Dallas, where he toiled as a reporter for five years. He left TV news in 2007 to work in the Dallas office of the Weber Shandwick public relations firm.

According to Dallas-based TV writer Ed Bark of Unclebarky.com, Lozano had been rushed to the hospital Sunday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack. He died today at Methodist Medical Center in Dallas.

In a statement released Monday morning, Lozano’s family thanked everyone for “their thoughts and prayers.”

His KSAT news boss issued his condolences in a statement. “Bert was a well-respected and much-loved journalist during his time at KSAT12,” Jim Boyle, vice president of KSAT news, said. ” His professionalism, warmth and personality made him a favorite among viewers and KSAT12 staffers alike. He will be greatly missed and we offer our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.”

Spriester recalled Lozano as “a talented man, who was taken too soon. When you work with someone in this tense business you create a bond, once a part of KSAT, always a part of KSAT.

“I’ll remember his smile,” Spriester added, “and losing a bet, and he forced me to sing ‘The Eyes of Texas” in the newsroom. A professional, and a gentleman.”

Pari spoke of the nicknames they had for each other. “He used to call me ‘Mamma Bird’ because I was sort of looking after him in a protective sort of way in the newsroom. I called him ‘Baby Bird’. . .two nicknames that stuck to this day.”